6But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; 7and they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: “The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. 8If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, ‘a land which flows with milk and honey.’ 9Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them.”
Yesterday we looked at the reaction of the Children of Israel to their opportunity to enter the promised land. As we read their reaction to the report of the spies, it is evident that this generation still does not understand the process we have been studying. They are at the edge of entering into their land of destiny but they could not bring themselves to do it.
The principles Moses applied at the Red Sea were fear not, stand on the promise of God and go forward at the command of the Lord. When they did that they won the war against the Egyptians. They never again had to fear the Egyptian army. Now they are facing the inhabitants of the land of Canaan, but ten of the spies tell them to “be very afraid” they make no mention of the promise of God and they want to go backward instead of forward.
One of the reasons they would not apply the principles of the Red Sea at the border of Canaan was that they had not done it at the Red Sea. Moses had really done it for them. However taking the promised land meant they had to fight. When something was required of them, these principles went out the window, as it were.
We must realize that God will not ask us to do what we cannot. He will always do his part, but faith requires that we do ours. Moses couldn’t part a sea, but he could raise a staff. That’s what God asked him to do. God asks us to trust him, to pray, and to study His word. We can do those things. God asks us to keep his commandments and live by his standards. We can do that. We cannot provide the power for miracles, that is his part and we can be assured he will do that.
Today let’s take a few moments to see the contrast between the 10 spies and the two men who understood the principles of the Red Sea. We all know the story of Joshua and. I want to continue to press home the fact that this simple 3 step process is found everywhere people who win wars are found.
The 10 said 3 basic things. The land is exactly what God said it would be. What God did not tell us is that the inhabitants were too strong for us to overcome. We are like grasshoppers compared to them. We do not have the power to win the war.
Joshua and Caleb saw the same land. They came to the same conclusion about God’s description. The Land was indeed a land that flowed with milk and honey. It was rich and full of all that Israel needed. However they saw it through the eyes of the Red Sea victory.
Look at verse 9.
9Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them.”
They saw the same inhabitants that the other 10 saw. They knew that there were “giants in the land.” They knew about the walled cities. However they had applied the first step of the process. They had put away fear. Their message was simple. Do not fear them.
I love what Joshua says to the children of Israel. “They are our bread.” In modern vernacular we might say, “We can have them for lunch!” Joshua knew that they had no protection against the power of God. He remembered the drowning Egyptian army and he knew these people would be no different. Walls and giants are no problem when you have an almighty covenant partner on your side.
In verse 8 we see the reason they did not fear. “8If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us.” They do not state a specific promise, but they do state their belief that God is with them. Why do they believe this. I would suggest that Joshua and Caleb were meditating on the promises of the covenant of Abraham.
I believe they probably talked together about how God had taken care of the Egyptians. I believe they would have talked about the promise that God was going to give them the land of Canaan. As they traveled through the land, they did not see giants and cities as obstacles that could not be overcome. They saw more opponents that could not resist the power and promise of God.
They were encouraging the children of Israel to fear not, trust in the promise of God and go forward into the Land of their destiny. They knew that God was with them and they knew that nothing could stand against them.
Their own generation responded by threatening to stone them. However Joshua and Caleb maintained their faith in the process while they watched all of their contemporaries die in the wilderness. Joshua and Caleb lived to lead the next generation into the promised land.
I want to encourage you once again to examine your life. Get specific about the battles and wars you need to win. Don’t be afraid. God really is with you and for you. Find that one promise that really speaks to you and your situation. Stand on it. Make it your reality. The day will come when you will go forward into the manifestation of God’s glorious salvation.
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